What it is
The full spectrum of medical support that helps people conceive — from baseline evaluations and hormone support through advanced assisted reproductive technology. Not one treatment, a range of options.
A complete path through how it works, costs, legal considerations, workplace support, emotional well-being, and the policies that shape your care — with specific next steps for wherever you are right now.
Educational content only — not medical or legal advice. For personal guidance, consult a licensed professional. Last updated April 2026.
This is the federal, universal view of fertility care.
Insurance mandates, parental rights, leave programs, and embryo laws vary state by state. Open your state guide for the specifics that apply to you.
Start here
The full spectrum of medical support that helps people conceive — from baseline evaluations and hormone support through advanced assisted reproductive technology. Not one treatment, a range of options.
Solo parents, same-sex couples, opposite-sex couples, partnered and unpartnered people of all genders, people facing diagnoses that affect fertility, and anyone who simply wants to understand their reproductive health.
ASRM guidance: evaluation after 12 months trying under 35, 6 months at 35–40, right away over 40. You can learn about your fertility health before you are ready to start — knowing your baseline does not lock you into a path.
Key insight · Information-forward
Knowing your baseline does not commit you to any path. Several clinically validated tools give you a snapshot of your reproductive health before you are ready to act on it.
Hormone panel — AMH, FSH, estradiol, LH, TSH, prolactin. Ask your OB-GYN or PCP for Day 3 values.
At-home tests — Modern Fertility (Ro), Everlywell, LetsGetChecked offer CLIA-certified panels reviewed by a physician.
Proov — FDA-cleared at-home test confirms ovulation via PdG (progesterone metabolite).
YO Home Sperm Test — FDA-cleared motility test. Provides a live motility score, not just count.
Cycle tracking — Clue, Flo, Premom, Clearblue Digital. Low-effort way to flag irregularities.
Semen analysis — In-clinic SA is the gold standard; repeat at least one month apart per AUA/ASRM.
Peony does not endorse specific products. Tools listed based on available clinical evidence. A fertility specialist may repeat tests in-clinic for a comprehensive evaluation.
ASRM, "Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion" (2021) · ASRM, "Testing and interpreting measures of ovarian reserve" (2020) · ACOG, "Anticipatory Counseling Regarding Ovarian-Factor Fertility Decline" (2025) · AUA/ASRM, "Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men" (2020, amended 2024).
You're viewing How it works for the fertility care path.
Fertility care is the full spectrum of medical support for building your family — from a first hormone panel all the way through advanced treatment. You don't need a diagnosis or a specific timeline to start.
Start with your baseline
You don't need a failed cycle or a specific timeline to understand your fertility health. A hormone panel and a semen analysis — available through your OB-GYN or primary care provider today — give you a real picture before you need it. That information shapes your next step, whether that's trying naturally, adjusting timing, or talking to a specialist.
ASRM Practice Committee · asrm.org
Your Baseline
For people with ovaries
At-home options
AMH values can vary between labs. Use at-home results to start the conversation, not to draw final conclusions.
For people with sperm
About 50% of fertility challenges involve sperm factors.
A semen analysis evaluates count, motility, and morphology. It's non-invasive, low-cost, and the single most informative first test. Per AUA/ASRM 2024 guidelines, two analyses — ideally a month apart — give the most accurate baseline.
At-home options
In-clinic: ~$50–200, often covered under diagnostic benefits
AUA/ASRM “Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men” 2020, amended 2024
Know your window — 6 days, not 2
Conception is only possible during a narrow window each cycle: the 5 days before ovulation plus ovulation day itself. The catch: ovulation doesn't happen on day 14. It occurs 12–16 days before your next period — which means a 35-day cycle ovulates around day 19–21, not day 14. A tracking app that assumes day 14 is giving you the wrong target.
LH strips (OPKs)
LH surge 24–36 hrs before ovulation
~$20–40/cycle
Basal body temperature (BBT)
Temperature rise confirms ovulation occurred
~$15 thermometer
Cervical mucus monitoring
"Egg white" texture signals peak days
Free
Proov (PdG test)
Confirms successful ovulation via progesterone metabolite
~$30–45/cycle
Cycle tracking app
Pattern analysis over time (pair with OPKs or BBT)
Free–$15/mo
Wilcox AJ et al., NEJM 1995 · ASRM Practice Bulletin on Ovulation Induction
Quick Reference
What to Know
The ASRM clinical threshold — what it is and what it isn't
ASRM defines infertility as 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse without conception for people under 35; 6 months for those 35–40; and recommends an immediate evaluation for people over 40. This definition exists for two reasons: it determines when a specialist referral is formally indicated, and it's the standard insurers use to gate treatment coverage.
Does apply to
Does NOT apply if
For any of the above, evaluation is appropriate now — not after a waiting period.
Fertility care isn't a waiting game. Start with clear baseline information, understand your unique timing, and know exactly when to bring that data to a specialist conversation.
Start here
Your next steps
Wherever you are right now, there is a clear next step. Choose the description that fits.
Path 01
Path 02
Path 03
Path 04
Path 05
Path 06
Section 8
The organizations and tools most commonly referenced in fertility care. All verified as active and clinically or organizationally credible.
Clinical
ASRM
Clinical guidelines, patient education, provider directory, advocacy.
asrm.org
Clinical
ReproductiveFacts.org
ASRM's patient-facing education hub. Clear, evidence-based.
reproductivefacts.org
Clinical
SART
Clinic-level ART success rate data — use to compare clinics.
sart.org
Clinical · Tool
CDC ART Data + IVF Success Estimator
National and clinic-specific outcomes; personalized estimates.
cdc.gov/art
Clinical
ACOG
OB-GYN guidelines, PCOS, endometriosis, preconception care.
acog.org
Clinical
AUA
AUA/ASRM joint guidelines on male fertility evaluation and treatment.
auanet.org
Advocacy · Support
RESOLVE
Support groups, professional directory, insurance, grants, advocacy toolkit.
resolve.org
Community
Fertility for Colored Girls
Community, advocacy, and financial support for Black women and families.
fertilityforcoloredgirls.org
LGBTQ+
Family Equality
LGBTQ+ family-building advocacy, resources, and community.
familyequality.org
LGBTQ+
Men Having Babies
Community for gay and bisexual men pursuing surrogacy and donor conception.
menhavingbabies.org
Solo parents
Single Mothers by Choice
Community and resources for solo parents by choice.
singlemothersbychoice.org
Oncofertility
The Chick Mission
Fertility preservation support for young cancer patients.
thechickmission.org
Mental health
Postpartum Support International
Mental health support for pregnancy loss and perinatal issues.
postpartum.net
Grants
Baby Quest Foundation
Up to $15,000. Two cycles/year. Next deadline Sept 10, 2026.
babyquestfoundation.org
Grants
Tinina Q. Cade Foundation
Up to $10,000 for treatment or adoption; underserved families.
cadefoundation.org
Medication savings
EMD Serono · Fertility LifeLines
Up to 75% off GONAL-F, Cetrotide, Ovidrel for eligible patients.
fertilitysavings.com
Financing
Sunfish
Marketplace aggregating fertility financing options and grants.
joinsunfish.com
Grants
RESOLVE grant listings
Aggregated current scholarships and grants for fertility treatment.
resolve.org/learn/financial-resources
Workplace rights
EEOC
PWFA, ADA, and Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
eeoc.gov
Leave
DOL · FMLA
FMLA eligibility, employer obligations, employee rights.
dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla
Tax
IRS Publication 502
Eligible medical expenses including IVF; HSA/FSA eligibility.
irs.gov/publications/p502
Policy
Congress.gov
Track status of active fertility-related legislation.
congress.gov